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Author Topic: Black dog vs cold sweat neck  (Read 3101 times)

TheCRSbeat

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Black dog vs cold sweat neck
« on: November 07, 2013, 07:11:14 PM »
Hi there, I would just like to start this off by saying this is my very first post on this forum. I'm really hoping some of you with more experience with these particular pups can help me. I am in the process of purchasing a G&L Bluesboy tribute. Semi hollow, maple neck and fretboard, Humbucker in the neck and a single coil in the bridge. I have already decided on a piledriver in the bridge, now I'm torn between what I should get for the Humbucker. I play blues, hardcore, alternative, pop punk, art rock, and classic rock. I was originally thinking about a nailbomb, but someone mentioned the miss might be too high, because of the semi hollow body. The wonderful people at BKP suggested the black dog or the cold sweat. What do you think? Can anyone help?

Dave Sloven

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Re: Black dog vs cold sweat neck
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2013, 10:14:09 PM »
I really don't know much about the type of guitar you have, but another option would be a Rebel Yell neck if the Cold Sweat neck has been recommended.  They are very similar, and I think your choice there would just depend on the overall tone you wanted.  The Black Dog is going in a bit of a different direction.

If you know both of these work, then your decision should ultimately be based on how you use the pickup.  I had this conversation with a friend of mine who is working out which BKP he wants for his guitar.  One of the things we worked out together is that the Rebel Yell and Cold Sweat type of neck pickup isn't really his style (I have a Cold Sweat set, by the way, so he got to test it out).  His lead playing, to put it in strictly Thin Lizzy terms (LOL), is more Brian Robertson than John Sykes, much more of a vocal, singing style based around bending notes than one incorporating a lot of hammer-ons, pull-offs, etc.  After thinking about all of that the choice was looking much more like an Emerald set than a Rebel Yell.

If you listen to the clips you will hear a passage in each one where it switches to the neck pickup.  In general you can hear how well the pickup manages the various things.  Think about that in terms of the tone you want and the style in which you play as a lead guitarist. People can only guess at that from what you have said, they haven't listened to you play a set.  Just guessing from what you say I'd probably go with the Black Dog.

If they have recommended a pickup though (especially a bridge pickup, which can be less forgiving regarding the guitars they go into) you can be pretty sure it won't sound obnoxious in it.

The Piledriver always sounds like a great pickup in clips!

As a bit of a left-field suggestion, have you considered a HSP-90 in the neck?  A Mississippi Queen might do the trick, especially if you have a bluesy style.
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TheCRSbeat

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Re: Black dog vs cold sweat neck
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2013, 12:32:27 AM »
Thank you very much for your reply. I am trying to keep an open mind about which Pup would be a good choice. I have considered a HSP90, but I never thought of the rebel yell. My lead style is very minimalistic, I stick pretty closely to the pentatonic, and I try to of the notes flow together. Not many hammer-ons, minimal pull-offs, plenty of vibrato and bends. I play slow. If that helps. I'll take a closer listen to some of the sound clips.

Dave Sloven

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Re: Black dog vs cold sweat neck
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2013, 12:37:50 AM »
My friend really liked the Emerald neck pickup, and he uses a very expressive style with a lot of vibrato and bends.  Not sure how it matches up against the Cold Sweat in terms of EQ, but as I said the neck position is more forgiving in terms of which guitar you use it in.

I'm assuming this is a semi-hollow Telecaster type of guitar if you are using a Piledriver.

It might be that a Cold Sweat has been recommended because it is relatively dark.  I'm not sure how the Emerald and Rebel Yell compare to the Black Dog and Cold Sweat in that respect.  I'm tending to think you might be better of with a Black Dog than a Cold Sweat, just based on your playing style.
BLACK HAWKS
IMPULSES
COBRA-T
WAR PIGS
STOCKHOLM
COLD SWEATS
MIRACLE MAN
TRUE GRIT

https://slovendoom.bandcamp.com/releases

Telerocker

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Re: Black dog vs cold sweat neck
« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2013, 12:47:55 AM »
I would take the Cold Sweat in combinaton with the Piledriver. Unless you want vintagetones from the neckpickup, but that case I would pick a Mule.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

TheCRSbeat

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Re: Black dog vs cold sweat neck
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2013, 02:22:07 AM »
I'm trying for versatility above all else.

And yes, it is a tele style body.

darkbluemurder

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Re: Black dog vs cold sweat neck
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2013, 09:00:52 AM »
My friend really liked the Emerald neck pickup, and he uses a very expressive style with a lot of vibrato and bends.

All this Emerald neck talk makes me want one ...

It might be that a Cold Sweat has been recommended because it is relatively dark. 

The Cold Sweat neck is not exactly dark, in fact it has a lot of treble but it also has a lot of bass - too much for some guitars.

I'm not sure how the Emerald and Rebel Yell compare to the Black Dog and Cold Sweat in that respect. 

I have not tried them in the same guitars but I think both the Rebel Yell and the Black Dog necks are a bit more open sounding than the Cold Sweat neck.

I'm tending to think you might be better of with a Black Dog than a Cold Sweat, just based on your playing style.

I am tending to think the same.

Cheers Stephan